Fabrics and how to care for them

Synthetic fabric that looks very similar to wool. Items made from it are very warm, soft, and moth-resistant. Acrylic does not lose its shape, so it is often used in combination with other fibers to produce beautiful products. Acrylic fibers dye well, so items made from it look bright and do not fade for a long time. Disadvantages of acrylic fabric include low hygroscopicity and pilling. Acrylic products do not require special care and can be washed by hand or machine. ACETATE These fabrics consist of acetylcellulose. They have a slightly shiny surface and look similar to natural silk. They hold their shape well and almost do not wrinkle. They poorly absorb moisture and melt when heated, so these fabrics are suitable for pleating. Fabrics containing acetate are washed by hand or in a gentle machine cycle. Fabrics containing triacetate can be washed in a normal cycle at 70 degrees. These fabrics cannot be dried in a dryer. They should be hung to dry. They dry quickly and almost do not need ironing. If you want to iron them, do so from the inside with a warm iron. VELVET A thin, soft natural material with a surface made up of many fibers. Depending on the type of velvet, their length can vary, ranging from three to seven millimeters. The pile is so densely arranged on the fabric that it determines how velvety and cozy the velvet product will be. Velvet fabric is very strong, making it resistant to mechanical effects of any kind (friction, scratches, etc.). It does not lose its appearance or shape, so items made from it retain their original look and are ready to wear even after several years. No special care is needed for velvet clothing. It can be washed by hand or in a machine at temperatures not exceeding 30 °C. It's best to use water-based cleaning agents and avoid stronger solutions. This way, velvet retains its color and is cleaned from dirt. Items should not be wrung out. Using the spin mode in the washing machine is sufficient. Since the clothing does not wrinkle or crease, ironing is unnecessary. Composition: 80% cotton, 20% polyester. VISCOSE Viscose is a chemically produced fiber with properties closely approximating natural materials. Often, people not well-versed in textiles may mistake viscose for cotton, wool, or silk. The qualities of viscose depend on the additives used during its production. Viscose absorbs moisture very well, but its strength is significantly lower than that of cotton. This type of fabric is often used in children's clothing production. Viscose is suitable for winter and summer clothing. Its excellent breathability allows the skin to receive enough oxygen, positively impacting skin health and overall comfort. Viscose is machine or hand-washed. If you decide to use a washing machine, choose a gentle cycle with a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees. Never wring or machine-spin viscose items in a centrifuge. Such treatment causes clothes to lose their initial appearance. Viscose items can be hung to dry without squeezing or rolled in a sheet and gently wrung out. Viscose should not be machine-dried. When ironing viscose clothing, choose the 'silk' mode. CASHMERE The down of a mountain goat, combed or plucked by hand. From this down, a noble matte-glossy fabric is produced, which has always been highly valued. Cashmere products (also known as 'pashmina') consist of the finest threads, making them so tender and pleasant to the touch. Furthermore, this fabric is very lightweight but can retain heat for a long time. Cashmere should only be washed by hand. LINEN Linen fabric is one of the oldest in the world and was quite expensive in ancient times. Linen is highly hygroscopic, quickly absorbs moisture, and dries just as swiftly. In winter, linen items keep warm, and in summer, they help to endure the heat more easily. Linen is several times stronger than cotton, so clothing made from this material can serve for a long time. Linen wrinkles, but not as much as cotton. To avoid this, cotton, viscose, or wool fibers are added to it. Frequent washing does not diminish its softness. Linen withstands boiling well. However, colored fabrics should be washed at 60 degrees and chintzed at 40 in the washing cycle. If washing in a machine, a universal detergent can be used; for unbleached and colored linen, choose a fine fabric detergent without bleach. When dried in a dryer, linen may shrink. Always iron linen with dampness at the highest temperature. LUREX A metallic (aluminum, copper, brass, or nickel) thread of the fabric. Usually, lurex is used in combination with other fibers, which gives the product a shiny effect. MODAL A cellulose fiber. It is stronger than viscose and surpasses cotton in hygroscopicity by one and a half times. After washing, modal items always remain soft, do not fade, and almost do not 'shrink', making them easy to care for. Modal is often used in blends with other fibers, giving items a soft sheen and making them softer and more pleasant to the touch. POLYAMIDE Polyamide is a synthetically created fiber. Polyamide items are very popular because their properties help clothes maintain their original attractive appearance for a long time. The main advantages of polyamide fabric include excellent breathability and quick drying. Polyamide is most often used in the production of sportswear. Polyamide items are highly durable, soft, and lightweight. Clothing with polyamide can be washed in a regular washing machine. The optimal washing temperature is 40 degrees. Like most synthetic fabrics, polyamide poorly tolerates dryer drying. Items should be hung damp on a dryer. Polyamide should be ironed at the lowest heat without steam. POLYESTER A synthetic polyester fiber, polyester stands out among similar fabrics for its high functionality. It is a very durable fabric that makes any items long-lasting and wear-resistant. Clothing made with polyester has a range of properties. It is light, quick-drying, and maintains its original shape for a long time. It virtually does not wrinkle, which is important in modern life. Caring for polyester clothing is quite straightforward. It can be machine washed in a normal mode at a temperature of 40 degrees. If the washing temperature is higher, there is a risk of creases and wrinkles that are virtually impossible to remove afterward. POLYACRYLIC Polyacrylic is a synthetic fiber that visually resembles wool. Distinctive features of polyacrylic include softness, lightness, and wear resistance. Polyacrylic is most often used in making winter clothing, as it can retain heat due to its properties. Polyacrylic items do not require special care and are simple to use, like all synthetic fabrics. The main thing is to choose the correct washing and iron mode. The water temperature during washing should be about 30 degrees. SATIN A dense, glossy fabric made from cotton fiber. Satin has a silky surface, making it very pleasant to the touch. The satin item will not fade or lose its original appearance even after many washes. SINTIPON A good insulating lining for jackets, quilted coats. It's a nonwoven material made from synthetic fibers. It is much lighter than cotton wool, resilient, does not lose shape, or clump. Sintipon is nonhygroscopic, meaning it doesn't get soaked and dries easily. Moreover, it is produced in white color and does not bleed or leave stains on the outer fabric when washing insulated items. Unlike natural down, it can be hand or machine washed in a delicate cycle at 30 degrees. It dries quickly, retains its shape, and does not lose its volume. If necessary, it can be ironed with a slightly heated iron. KNITWEAR Knitwear (fr. tricotage) is a textile material or finished product whose structure consists of interlinked loops, unlike fabric, which results from the mutual interleaving of two thread systems arranged in two mutually perpendicular directions. Knitwear is characterized by stretchability, elasticity, and softness. Knitwear items made of cotton, wool, chemical fibers, and their blends should be washed in warm water up to 40 degrees in a soapy solution using mild agents specifically designed for knitwear. FLANNEL Soft, cotton fabric with a double-sided loose nap. It retains heat well and is very soft to the touch, making it widely used for sewing children's items (diapers, clothing) and women's clothing (robes, shirts). Additionally, it is used to make bed linens that excellently warmth during the cold season. FLEECE This is a voluminous warm synthetic 'wool' made of polyester, a nonwoven pile fabric consisting of the finest polyester fibers. Fleece was invented in 1979. Soft and durable fleece fabrics excellently retain warmth, do not absorb moisture, and dry quickly. Fleece is intended for insulating upper clothing and manufacturing independent products. Thanks to its low weight, products are very convenient to use. COTTON Cotton is one of the best fabrics, with many advantages. Children's clothing is always made only from cotton. Cotton dyes easily, provides good breathability, and is soft and pleasant to the body. Drawbacks include several things: it wrinkles quite easily, cannot retain heat, so it's unsuitable for winter clothing, and has the property of yellowing from light. Uncolored cotton can be machine washed at a temperature of 95 degrees, while colored cotton at 40. For white cotton, universal detergent can be used, for colored fabrics, special detergent for fine fabrics or without brighteners. Drying in the washing machine's dryer can cause significant shrinkage. After washing, chintzed cotton fabric, without wringing, should be hung to dry and then ironed with an iron on the 'wool' setting. Other cotton fabrics should be ironed while still slightly damp. CHIFFON Silk fabric made from natural or synthetic fibers. Chiffon is weightless and transparent, so it is most often used to sew festive, airy silhouette items. Chiffon items require careful care, as it is quite a thin and delicate fabric. SILK Natural silk has always been considered one of the most noble and expensive materials. Silk has a rare and unique property for natural fabrics – thermoregulation. It can maintain the human body's optimal temperature by changing its properties depending on the season and weather's external influence. In the summer, it provides good breathability, and in the winter, it warms. Additionally, it has long been proven that silk bed linen acts preventively against such diseases as arthritis, rheumatism, and skin and cardiovascular diseases. Silk evaporates moisture quickly and dries but leaves stain marks on clothing, so extreme care is needed when handling it. Silk is considered very light and airy fabric, but this exclusively depends on its production method. There are several types of silk weave that make it light or heavy. High-quality silk practically does not wrinkle. When washing, any silk bleeds heavily, so it should only be hand-washed at 30 degrees with mild detergent. Silk items should be rinsed well first in warm, then in cold water. Adding a little vinegar to the final rinse water can refresh the colors. Silk must not be rubbed, wrung out, twisted, or tumble-dried. Wet products are carefully wrapped in fabric, slightly squeezed out, and hung or laid flat. When ironing, choose the appropriate setting on the iron's panel. Remember, silk must not be sprayed with water, as streaks can appear. WOOL Fabrics made from wool are the basis for creating warm winter clothing. Wool retains heat excellently and can reliably protect from freezing even in extremely low temperatures. Wool clothing almost does not wrinkle and even has the property of smoothing out if, for example, woolen items hang in a closet on a hanger for a long time. Wool fabrics may stretch, especially under hot water influence. Another advantage of wool fabrics is that various smells quickly evaporate from them: cigarette smoke, sweat, etc. Wool items are recommended to be hand-washed exclusively with special detergents. The water temperature during washing should not exceed 30 degrees. After washing, woolen clothing should not be wrung out or machine-dried. Just lay the item flat on a shelf. ELASTANE Elastane is a synthetic polyurethane fiber whose main property is stretchability. Elastane is fantastically strong, fairly thin, and wear-resistant. Generally, elastane is used as a supplement to primary fabrics to give clothes specific properties. Items with a small percentage of elastane fit the figure better, clinging tightly but easily returning to their original shape after stretching. Elastane is quite resistant to various external influences. Clothing containing elastane can last quite a long time. Also, an undeniable advantage of items with elastane is that they practically do not wrinkle. Fabrics with elastane fibers are washed with special powders for fine fabrics. They should not be dried in the dryer. The washing and ironing temperature depends on the fibers in your mixed fabric. Symbols used for caring for textile products: